Kanpur. A gas cylinder was found on the railway track near Prempur railway station in Maharajpur police station area of Kanpur district on Sunday morning, after which the loco pilot (driver) stopped the goods train. A police officer said that an attempt to derail another train failed after the loco-pilot of the goods train applied emergency brakes. The officer said that this incident happened when the goods train was going from Kanpur to Prayagraj. This is the third incident within about a month, when an attempt has been made to disrupt the rail service.
In a statement issued on Sunday, it was said that at around 8:10 am today, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) police informed that a red cylinder was lying on the track on the railway route going from Prempur station towards Allahabad. On this information, the local police immediately reached Prempur railway station and inspected the spot. It was found that an empty red cylinder was lying on the track. Additional Director General (Railway) Prakash D said that the railway has lodged an FIR against unknown people in the Government Railway Police (GRP) Kanpur on Sunday. It is suspected that an attempt has been made to overturn the train by placing the LPG cylinder on the tracks.
He said the FIR was registered against unknown persons under sections 287 (negligence with respect to fire or combustible matter), 125 (act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the Indian Penal Code and the Railways Act.
Additional Director General (Railways) reached Prempur railway station and inspected the spot. He said that instructions have been issued to the station head (GRP Kanpur) and others to coordinate with Kanpur Police, Railway Protection Force (RPF) and railway officials.
He had a long discussion with officials of the railways, RPF and local police and asked them to chalk out an action plan to keep a strict vigil on the tracks to avoid such mischiefs in future. Kanpur East Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shravan Kumar Singh said the loco pilot alerted railway officials, who in turn informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Kanpur police and an investigation was launched into the matter.
The DCP said that the loco pilot of the goods train saw an LPG cylinder weighing five kilograms, after which the goods train going from Kanpur to Prayagraj was stopped by applying emergency brakes. He said that sniffer dogs were put to work and forensic experts were also called. They found that the LPG cylinder was empty.
About 15 days ago, an attempt was made to derail the Kalindi Express going from Prayagraj to Bhiwani by placing an LPG cylinder on the track in Shivrajpur area. The train collided with the cylinder before stopping and the cylinder fell off the track after being hit by the train. Similarly, a few days ago, an attempt was made to overturn a train by placing a gas cylinder between the tracks on the Kanpur-Kasganj railway route. Investigations are being conducted in both the cases. This is the third incident within about a month.